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About Insight Associates

Who we are

Founded in 1992 Insight Associates is well known as a professional accountancy firm with a difference!

Our area of expertise lies in the development, implementation and continuous delivery of high quality, meaningful financial and accounting information to aid the decision making of our clients. This information, together with our hands on commercially focussed support, is interpreted and presented to our clients to use as a successful management tool to accelerate the growth and profitability of their business.

Insight Associates take responsibility for all aspects of financial management and accounting from experienced Finance Director input, through to cash flow monitoring, credit control, monthly management accounts, payroll, VAT returns, statutory accounts & compliance, funding & business planning.

Our team of professionals have significant experience within the commercial sector and understand the huge benefits that a qualified hands-on accounts team can bring to every industry.

Garry Mumford FCCA - Director

Garry is a highly experienced finance manager/director. Having held a number of senior financial roles in various organisations, including Finance Directorships in independent and family owned businesses, Garry was one of the founding partners of Insight Associates in 1992.

He has significant experience in change management, turnarounds, systems development and implementation, and company acquisitions and disposals, as well as being a skilled facilitator in strategic planning and development situations. Garry is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), member of the Institute of Directors, and a director of the Turnaround Management Association in the UK.

Claire Ansbridge - Director

Claire has a wealth of experience in traditional commercial and industrial backgrounds, having held key financial roles in a number of organisations with a wide variety of responsibilities.

She is extremely pragmatic and focused, and as such makes a skilled project leader and team builder. As a clear thinker she has a track record of being able to deliver project objectives, and at the same time build strong and lasting relationships with our clients.

Since joining Insight Associates in 2002, she has led a number of turnaround and change management projects very successfully, receiving strong plaudits from our clients.

Simon Hammond BA FCCA - Finance Manager

Simon joined Insight Associates from Plymouth University in 2003 having gained a "high achiever" Degree in Accounting and Finance. He is also qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

During his time at University, Simon gained hands-on experience in various situations both in the corporate and accountancy environments. Since joining Insight Associates Simon has gained extensive experience and skills in our methodologies, processes and systems to a degree where he now works in many of our "outsourced" situations with clients from many different disciplines including IT, sales and marketing, manufacturing, and the automotive industry to name but a few.

Simon works very closely with our clients to ensure their financial management and accounting needs are met on a day-to-day basis, operating to regular deadlines and timescales and is held in very high regard by them. He has gained many accolades from our clients and is accepted as a valued member of their in-house teams.

Shirley Hoy - Office Manager

Shirley is a highly skilled business administrator who, since qualifying, has worked in a variety of roles ranging from New Business Development for the Electronics Industry, PA to a Divisional Director of Marconi, International Product Licence Approvals for the Pharmaceutical Industry, Advertising Sales for a Glossy Magazine, and various Office Manager roles.
The industries she has worked in have ranged from large well funded multi-nationals through to small distressed businesses so she has a good perspective of the benefits and difficulties faced by both.

In the majority of her administration roles there has been an element of 'marketing' which has given her the opportunity to expand on her creative writing and ideas skills.
Since joining Insight Associates as Office Manager early in 2003 she has been material in coordinating and promoting Insight's sponsored networking group 'The Bishop's Stortford Breakfast Club'.

Shirley is responsible for the back office functions here at Insight Associates resolving everyday general office issues to ensure the smooth running of the business. She is responsible for our own accounts processing and invoicing.

The remainder of her time here at Insight is spent within the marketing arm of the business. She is actively involved in copy writing, marketing themes, and preparing for seminars and exhibitions and thoroughly enjoys the variety and challenges they bring.
On a personal level her hobbies include travel and photography.

Cara Taylor - Finance Assistant

Cara joined Insight Associates in 2011 as a Finance Assistant and as a confident, reliable individual who likes to complete tasks. She has quickly established herself as an integral part of the client delivery team. 

She brings with her a wealth of experience gained in both the private sector (textile manufacturing) and the public sector within the National Health Service.

Cara gained her AAT qualifications at Chelmsford College and has also completed a National Diploma in Business where she achieved 3 distinctions.

She enjoys travel and is a keen fitness fanatic who will often be found working out at her local gym.

Our Clients

We usually work with independent businesses with a turnover between £2/3m and £10m who are in their ‘adolescent’ phase of development.  They have grown out of the ‘infancy’ stage and have an ambition for growth and/or change. 

Historically the business owner/manager has taken responsibility for the finances perhaps with assistance from a book-keeper.  The information produced has primarily been used to meet statutory demands with a limited contribution to the understanding and development of the business.

In order to improve the performance of the business or drive it forward to the next phase of development the business owner identifies a need for timely, reliable management accounts information together with proactive support to aid the decision making process and maximise growth potential.